Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX9V

Here is a in-depth assessment of the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX9V, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and HX9V (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and HX9V (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The FS42 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the HX9V and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX9V being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple summation of how the FS42 matches up against the HX9V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic FS42 Gallery and Sony HX9V Gallery.

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic FS42 enjoys outer measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Sony HX9V has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX9V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the FS42 compared to the HX9V.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and HX9V is 95 and 91 respectively.

More often than not, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing technical specs. The visual underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and HX9V.

As you can tell, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FS42 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony HX9V will provide more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The older FS42 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.